Ventilator



Dec. 27, 1938. I A. A. MEAD ET AL 2,141,442

VENT ILATOR Filed Aug. 10, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 27', 1938. A. A. MEAD ET AL VENTILATOR Filed Aug. 10, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i DI eM/Z/JJ WCZ/J W. 2 r

W (IA/7701447 Patented Dec. 2' 7, 1938 Albert. ,llfrcd .Mead, Blackheath, London, and Lionel Lynes, Penge, London, England, assigm era to Mead, McLean & Company, Limited, London, England, a company of Great-Britain Application August 10, 1937, Serial No. 158,420

In Great Britain February 25, 1937 I 4 Claims. This invention is concernedwith improvements in ventilators and particularly ventilators for moving vehicles. An important object of the in vention is to provide a ventilator of the vane type 5 which is adapted for producing draughtless expulsion of air even when disposed at the forward 7 part of a motorcar where air disturbances are encountered due to the advance of the windscreen and other front parts against the body of 10 air.

Vehicle ventilators are known which consist of vanes arranged in side openings so. that the general plane of the vanes is parallel to or slightly inclined to the plane of the openings, the leading and trailing edge portions of the vanes being flared outwardly but to a greater extent at the trailing portion than at the leading portion. The action of the vane during motion of the vehicle is to cause a stream of air to flow along the inner face of the vane and such stream acts inductively for the draughtless expulsion of air from the interior of the vehicle. Ina situation, such as that at the front of a motor car, where there is air disturbance of such a nature as to prevent parallel air stream flow past a forward aperture, the problem. arises how to arrange a vane conveniently and so as'to ensure the regular flow of an air stream over the inner face of the vane and thereby obtain draughtless expulsion of air from the interior.

According to this invention, a vane having an outwardly flared trailing edge portion is supported so that its leading edge is set a short distance laterally outward from a frame part or that the flared trailing portion is disposed sufficiently rearwardly along the side opening for preventing indraught rearwardly of the vane. There is thus a gap or slot opening between the leading edge of the vane and the vehicle and as the latter moves forward air enters at such gap or slot opening. Thus, there is ensured an air stream flow along the inner face of such vane which flow acts inductively for expulsion as aforesaid before making its exit past the flared trailing portion of the vane. The vane is preferably made of glass or other transparent material so as not to obstruct vision and is suitably mounted on the vehicle by the aid of simple -.brackets which do not interfere with the raising and lowering of the normal window sash or pane.

In the case of a motor car, the position of the vane is advantageously advanced so that its lead- 55 ing edge is about even with the front edge of the body part at the forward end of a side opening of a vehicle, the length of the vane being such .door and, in the case of the latter being sloped rearwardly, the forward edge of the vane is inclined rearwardly to correspond.

The air stream flowing outwardly from the vehicle, due to the flared trailing portion of the vane, provides a shield against lateral lndraught through the rearward portion of the side opening. This may demand, of course, that the length of vane be suitably proportioned to the length of a given window opening.

The degree of flaring of the trailing edge portion of a vane may vary as also may the length of such portion. If desired, the trailing portion may be hingedly mounted in relation to the vane body and may be swingable outwards. With such an arrangement, hand signalling by a driver is not impeded and clumsy signalling cannot damage the' vane, for the trailing portion gives way before any outward impact of the driver's arm and returns to operative position immediately the arm is withdrawn. The stop which normally holds the trailing portion in correct angular position may be movable so as to enable thetrailing vane to be placed parallel with the body or side of the vehicle for convenience when the vehicle is parked.

The forward edge of the vane may be flared outwardly a little, if desired, in order to provide an intake mouth but a vane not having forward flare and giving a plain gap or slot opening has been found to operate very efficiently. Thev width of the gap or slot opening may vary in different cases according to the efiect it is desired to produce. I a

In order to maintain an even gap or slot opening, pieces of wood, ebonite or light metal casting or the like may be inserted between the frame members of the vane and the door or other vehicle part on which such frame members are mounted.

In order to enable the invention to be readily understood, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings illustrating examples of practical constructions embodying the present improvements, in which drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper forward portion of a motor car body showing an improved ventilator mounted at the driver's window opening.

Figure 2 is a horizontal plan section taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 1. i I Figure 3 is a plan section to a larger scale illustrating details in the hinged mounting of the flared portion of the ventilator vane.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the parts illustrated in Figure 8 as seen from the inner side and when the hinged portion of the vane has been turned into alignment with the main part of the vane.

Figure is a plan of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan section of a modified construction of vane.

Figure '1 is a horizontal section showing a further modified construction and arrangement, and

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing a deflector or diffuser device fltted at the rear pillar of the window opening.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, 0 indicates the wind screen of a motor car body b, and 0 indicates the driver's window glass which can be raised or lowered in the door d in the usual manner. The ventilator of these improvements consists of a vane 12 with an outwardly flared trailing end portion 22'. The vane o advantageously consists of a flat sheet of glass having frame members e of U-section metal along its top and bottom edges. Bracket arms I seen only at the lower edge, are suitably attached to the frame members and serve for supporting the vane on the door 11 so that the vane is disposed laterally outwards a little from the door with its main or body portion substantially parallel to the window and its leading edge disposed a short distance laterally from the door frame or body part at the forward end of the window opening. As seen clearly in Figure 2, the bracket arms I may be secured to the window sill, ledge or frame by means of screws. If desired a bracket arm or suitable bosses may be cast on the frame members e so that the attachment of the device requires no addition of separate parts. Due to the outward disposition of the vane 21 and the disposition of its leading edge, a slotlike entrance is formed at 9 between the leading edge of the vane and the front pillar of the door d, or between the leading edge of the vane v and the moulding h of the front part of the body b. In the example illustrated, the front of the car body and the upper portion of the door are sloped rearwardly in conventional manner and the leading edge of the vane 12 is similarly sloped so that there is an even slot-like opening for the full depth of the vane. It will be observed that the mounting of the vane 12 does not interfere with the opening and closing of the window glass 0 in the usual manner. I

The width of the slot-like opening a is of some importance, for it must not be so narrow as unduly to throttle admission of air, or so wide as to admit an uncontrollable and excessive stream. The proportions illustrated in Figure 2, have been found to be particularly suitable for a vane of the dimensions shown. It is further of importance to ensure the maintenance of preservation of the width of the appropriate slot opening and for this purpose spacing blocks a are advantagemembers e and the door pillar or window frame, as shown.

The trailing end portion 12' of the vane is set at a suitable angle to the main portion 1: so as to produce an appropriate flaring of such end portion of the vane. The portion 0' may be made in one piece with the portion 0 or, as shown, it may be a separate sheet of glass. Moreover, the portion 0' may be flxedly supported in angular relation with the portion 0 or, as in the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, it may be hingedly mounted. The details of this hinged mounting will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5.

RefeningtoFlguresiitoditwillbeseenthat the lower frame members e e of the vane portions 1: 0' have flked to or cast on them respectively hinge brackets k k. The bracket It has a hinge pin or pivot l and the bracket It has a perforated lug k which pivotally engages the pin l and is retained thereon by a nut m. A light spring 11 coiled around the pin. 2 has one end a bent to engage with the lug 1:: and the other end n extended and bent to-engage with the bracket 10'. The upper hinge may be of similar construction though the spring may be omitted from it and from the lower hinge if desired. The action of this light spring or springs is constantly to tend to move the vane portion 1;" into alignment with the vane portion 0, as seen in Figures 4 and 5. On the frame member e there is pivoted a catch 0 which is swingable through the arc indicated in chain line in Figure 4, and on the frame member e there is fixedly mounted orcast an abutment plate or member p. When it is desired they abut, as in Figure 3,.they hold the vane portion 22' at the appropriate angle to the vane portion 12.

When a vehicle is parked, or when it is running with the driver's window glassc closed, it may be preferred to have the vane portion 0' in the aligned position shown in Figure 5. When the glass 0 is lowered, as in Figure 1, and it is desired to have the ventilator operative, the vane portion 12' is turned to the position illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. If the driver of the vehicle in thrusting out his hand to make'a signal, should strike the vane portion '0' or catch it with his sleeve, it will sufier no damage but will-merely turn outwards against the action of the spring 11. and upon'withdrawal of the driver's hand the spring 12. will return the vane portion '0' to the position seen in Figure 3. Or, if the spring is dispensed with, the vane portion 1; may be returned by the pressure of air upon it.

When the ventilator is in operation, air enters through the slot opening a, as indicated by the arrows. Due to the pull produced by the deflective and inductive action of the angled vane portion 12', it is found that the air passes along the inner surface of the vane 22 inthe form of a well deflned stream which makes its exit past the vane portion '0' as indicated by the arrows. As a matter of. fact portions of the well-defined fresh air stream become detached and pass into the enclosed atmosphere of the car and at the same ously inserted between the upper and lower frame time small portions of the enclosed atmosphere are constantly removed and join the escaping stream behind the angled vane portion '0'. Under actual tests, no perceptible draught is indicated by appropriate instruments within the car in spite of the strong entry and outgoing currents at the positions above described. Nevertheless, a marked revivifleation of the enclosed atmosphere is clearly to be discerned and such reviviflcation is, of course, accelerated (although still in a draughtless manner) if the front passengers window also is lowered and a similar ventilator on the near side is also in operation. Furthermore, it is found that at quite moderate speeds of travel there is no indraught due to a side wind, the escaping current behind the vane portion 12' being effective for deflecting or warding off such indraught and preserving the draughtless ventilation above described.

When the flared trailing portion is hingedly mounted as aforesaid, care is taken, as by forming or fitting the glass edges, to maintain the surface of the vane along its length as unbroken as possible.

Instead of the vane consisting of two plane portions '0 v mounted in angular relation with each other, as in Figures 1 to 3, it may consist of appropriately curved parts, or of a plane part and a curved part or parts. Figure 6, illustrating one example of this, shows the flaring portion 12' joined to the plane portion '0 by a bend a, the two parts of the vane being in one integral piece of glass or other transparent material according to this construction.

Figure 7 shows a vane suitably proportioned in relation to a window opening of the dimensions illustrated, this vane having been found to give particularly good results. Itwill be observed that a particularly well defined wind slot is obtained in Figure 7 by means of a strip 1! of suitable material which is fixed to the forward edge portion of the door d, the said strip extending evenly and about parallel with the leading edge of the vane 22 and accurately spaced from it. To suit some body constructions, the width of the slot between the strip y and vane 22 may advantageously decrease a little from the leading edge inwards, as shown. Thus, the formation or setting of the strip y may give a slot opening of about three eighths of an inch at the leading edge, diminishing to about one quarter of an inch at the inward or trailing edge of the strip ,1 Such narrowing of the passage inward of the slot opening will increase the velocity of the air stream past the vane. An important point is to have a well defined slot opening at the leading edge of the vane so that the action here- 4 inbefore described may take place in a reliable manner. As will be apparent from the dot-anddash line the extreme edge of the vane part v in the operative position projects laterally but very little beyond the vehicle body when having regard to the greatest width of the latter.

In Figure 8, the heavy arrows indicate the stream flowing past the surfaces of the vane. At the front end of the opening are seen small curved arrows indicating small portions of air breaking away from the main stream for the reviviflcation of the enclosed atmosphere. The light arrows slanting towards the main stream indicate a light outward movement of air due to the inductive action of the main current. In some cases, it has been found that, due possibly to some reflex action, there may be a small entry of air at the rear pillar of the window as indicated by the small arrows I. In order to prevent even these small currents or puffs from being perceptible to the occupants of the adjacent seats, a small deflector or diffuser strip 2 is fitted down the rear pillar. The strip 2, which may present a hollow surface as shown, or may present an inclined or bevel surface or may present a fiat surface about perpendicular to the lateral entry, has the eifect of diffusing into the interior any entering air currents of the nature referred to.

Vanes of the relative dimensions orproportions represented in Figures 7 and 8 have been found to act very efliciently and give highly satisfactory results. It is apparent that they are not obstructive either to the vision or physical action of the driver who is not conscious of their presence after a very short period of use.

We claim:-

1. Vehicle ventilator comprising a vane supported with its leading edge at a short distance laterally outward from a vehicle part at the forward end of a side opening of the vehicle, said vane having a flared trailing-end portion disposed rearwardly along said opening, a hinged mounting for said trailing-end portion, spring means constantly tending to turn such trailingend portion out of operative position and into alignment with the plane of said body portion, and a releasable stop for retaining said trailing end portion in its operative position.

2. Vehicle ventilator comprising a vane supported with its leading edge at a short distance laterally outward from a vehicle part at the forward end of a side opening of the vehicle, said vane having a flared trailing-end portion disposed rearwardly along said opening, a hinged mounting for said trailing-end portion, and a stop allowing such trailing-end portion to be pushed outwardly from its operative position and arrmted in that position on its return movement.

3. Ventilator for vehicle bodies having side openings comprising a flat vane having an angularly disposed rear end portion, means for supporting said vane with its leading edge disposed a short distance laterally outward from a vehicle part at the forward end of a side opening of the vehicle so as to provide a narrow leading slot opening between said leading edge and vehicle part and presented in the direction of travel, the angularly disposed rear end portion of. the vane flaring outwardly from the plane of the vehicle side and being positioned sufficiently rearwardly with respect to the side opening to produce an outflow of air through said opening adapted for preventing indraught rearwardly of said vane when the vehicle is moving forwardly.

4. Ventilator for vehicle bodies having side openings comprising a flat vane having an angularly disposed rear end portion, means for supporting said vane with its leading edge spaced a short distance laterally outward from a vehicle part at the forward end of a side opening of the vehicle so as to provide a narrow leading slot opening between said leading edge and vehicle part and presented in the direction of travel, the angularly disposed end portion being flared outwardly from the plane of the side of the vehicle and being positioned sumciently rearwardly with respect to said side opening to produce an outflowing stream of air through said opening adapted for preventing indraught rearwardly of said vane, said supporting means serving to deflnitely rigidly preserve the narrow leading slot opening produced by the lateral disposition of the vane in relation to said vehicle part.

ALBERT ALFRED MEAD. LIONEL LYNES. I 

